Fastening device



April c. E. BREWSTER FASTENING DEVICE Filed 001;. 29, 1943 m m m an E 7 d w V F. v. \7 B w Z k my 2 0 M 3 m b w w v g a m M Patented Apr. 3, 1945 Charles Boeing Aircraft Com Washington E. Brewster, Seattle. Wash, asslgnor to pany, a corporation of Application October 29, 1943, SerialNo. 506,212

3 Claims.

The present invention'relates to fastening devices and more particularly to a quickly releasable locking pin.

It is frequently necessary in temporarily attaching two plates or similar elements to accomplish this attachment from one side of the assembly only. This has been generally referred to in the art as a blind attachment or fastening and my improved device relates to such blind devices which are provided with a locking means in order to prevent their slipping out or their unintentional removal from the elements which are temporarily held together or fastened by the fastening device.

In the manufacture and operation of aircraft numerous assemblies are required to be made in which the work is accessible conveniently from a single side only and it is to such applications that my quickly releasable locking device is more particularly adapted. The use of the present locking pin has been found extremely eilicient and satisfactory in connection with the removable and interchangeable bomb rack sections of military aircraft. My improved device comprises essentially a tubular pin having a head portion and a. detent means on its shank end which is automatically. moved into its locking position through the camming action of an axially disposed rod extending thru the tubular bore of the pin and projecting beyond its head portion.

It is accordingly 9. major object of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient looking or coupling pin which is adapted to be inserted or readily released from one side of an assembly only. It is a further object t provide such a quickly releasable locking pin which consists of a minimum number of movable elements such that it is quickly and economically manufactur'ed and requires no special tools for its insertion, operation or removal.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a quickly releasable locking pin which is particularly adapted for the rapid and efficient temporary attachment of readily interchanged or relocated bomb rack sections of aircraft. It is a further object to provide such a device in which the detent or locking means becomes automatically effective upon release of the unlocking force.

represented by the portions B and C and spaced gether. Other objects and advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the present description and the accompanying drawing in which: V

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of my improved quickly releasable fastening pin;

Fig. 2' shows a cross sectional elevation of the pin shown in Fig. l as applied to attach adjacent bomb rack sections; and

Fig. 3 shows a modification ofmy fastening device adapted for the temporary fastening of two sheets or plates.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is'shown a form of my quickly releasable locking pin having a relatively extended shank length adapted to temporarily fasten the spaced plates B and C of adjacent bomb racks between which is interposed the tubular sleeve A. In this modification the locking pin ll may preferably form a part of the aircraft type bomb rack which is made in sections as determined by the sleeve A. In currently used military aircraft certain of these bomb rack sections can be removed or the location of the sections within the airplane can be changed. On the other hand, the bomb rack may have been pre viously installed to accommodate one type or. size of bomb and it may be desired to have it replaced by the bomb rack adapted to accommodate a different type or size of bomb. The present locking pins have been found particularly efficient and serviceable in their employment for the quick interchange or relocation of these bomb rack sections and the desired bomb rack rearrangements have been accomplished, particularly in the field under unfavorable conditions, both quickly and satisfactorily and without the use of wrenches or other special tools.

The form of the locking pin, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, includes a tubular pin element or shank H having an axial bore Ila and enlarged bores readily within the bore I la, having at one end an enlarged cylindrical portion 13 which is readily A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a simple and eflicient modification of the aforementioned quick release locking pin which is adapted for the temporary aiinement and securement of two superimposed sheets which it may be desired to temporarily hold while they are being riveted or otherwise fastened toslidable within the bore I la of the pin element and an adjacent frusto-conical portion I4 adjacent the enlarged cylindrical end l3. The conical or tapered portion l4 serves as a camming means for a ball detent H which is retained in the projected position shown in Fig. 2 by a restricted outer portion of the radially disposed hole It. A similar and oppositely disposed hole l5 of slightly larger diameter than the ball I1 is provided within the counterbored portion of the pin l I to facilitate the assembly of the ball detent within the locking pin. The restriction at ll may preferably be formed by not drilling Q ite through the pin.

Within the eounterbored portion l lb at the opposite end of the'shank of the tubular pin ll there is provided a compression spring I. in an encircling arrangement concentrically disposed about the rod 2, the adjacent and of which is provided with a handle or rod head fitting l|.' This handle portion is provided with a flanged end its preferably disposed in fiush relationship with the end of the rod I! to which it is fixedly attached by the transversely disposed retaining pin I 9b. The outside diameter of the hub portion ameter of the pin ll to which it is weldedor brazed as at 20s, or otherwise fixedly attached to the tubular pin. The fitting 20, in an alternative form, might be provided with radially extending arms or wings instead of the annular flange shown. And it could, ofcourse, be made integral or of the same piece of stock as the tubular pin portion ll with a shoulder turned or formed for abutment against the plate B. The opposite end of the pin shank beyond the detent I1 is suitably beveled or chamfered as at I id to permit it to be inserted readily within the openings or bores A0, B and Co of the bomb rack assembly.

The form of fastening pin shown in Fig. 2 is preferably assembled byflrst inserting the detent ball l1, through the opening I! and into the restricted opening l8; inserting the rod I! without its handle is through the chamfered end of the tubular pin until it projects through the opposite end of the pin and its camming portion It maintains the ball within its opening ll; placing the spring l8 about the opposite end of the rod l2 and sliding the same into the counterbored portion lib after which the handle fitting I9 is passed over the adjacent end of the rod and the pin l9b inserted therethrough.

To insert the locking pin ll through the openings A0, B0 and Co it is merely necessary to depress the head ls, preferably by the thumb, against the handle held by the fingers, thereby compressing the spring II and permitting the conic portion is to move toward the end of the pin shank and permit the ball II to be moved from beyond the outer surface of the pin. The inward movement of the ball detent ll permits the remainder of the shank II to be inserted through the alined openings A0, B0 and 00 until the shoulder formed by the weld flu or other hub portion is disposed against, or adjacent, the plate 3. The spring ll causes outward movement of the handle and its separation from the pin head 20, upon release of pressure against the handle II, and the resulting camming effect of the tapered portion ll causes the ball H to be moved to its extreme outward position against the restriction I! of the hole. In this position it projects appreciably beyond the outer cylindrical surface of the pin II and locks the latter against withdrawal by hearing against the edge of the opening preferably greater than the depth of the space between the surface of the rod is and the bore llc such that the ball does not leave the region of its hole when the red I! is telescoped within the tubular pin ll to the point where the ball restsupontheoutersurfaceoftherod l2.

It will accordingly be seen that the quick release locking pin of Figs. 1 and 2 is capable of use wherever a bolt and nut might be used conventionally, as well as in blind locations where the nut would not be accessiblethus prohibiting the use of the bolt and nut. The tapered portion ll of the pin continues to engage the ball If to force the same against the, restriction it such that the ball maintains contact with the structure 0, through which the shank had been inserted to prevent removal of the locking pin \mtil the rod element It is again depressed and moved toward the right. It has been found that one ball I1 is sufficient to effect a secure locking action, although several balls may preferably be used where the type of installation makes it desirable.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a modification of my fastening device applied as a temporary fastener for adjacent sheets b and 0 provided with alined openings b0 and co. This fastener is substantially identical in structure and operation as that of Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception that it is normally much smaller in size, has fewer parts and is generally of simpler construction. The tubular body la is bored or drilled from each end such that a transverse partition or abutment lb is provided and which in turn is provided with a bore of a suitablediameter to receive the rod 2a. The abutment lb serves as a stop or partition against which the compression spring to is adapt ed to bear and also as a guide or hearing for the -rod in. In this modification the body portion Ia is preferably of a single integral piece of stock having its shank comprised of portions of two different diameters with an intermediate shoulder at lo, a chamfered shank end at id, and a flanged or winged end at le. The rod 2a is provided with an enlarged end portion la, a tapered or conical portion 4a and a handle portion 9a flxedtotherodbymeansofthepin 8b,

The rod assembly in this modification is identical, except for the size, with that shown in Fig. 2. A compression spring la is interposed between the hub of the handle 90 and the abutment lb such that when the pressure on the handle 9a is released and the body la has its shouldered portion bearing upon the top plate 0, the camming effect of the tapered portion la causes the ball la to be forced outwardly against the restrictions of the holes 5a, The outer ends of the ball receiving holes in are preferably peened over such that the balls are prevented from falling out and in their outer positions extend substantially beyond the outside diameter of the shank portion of the pin body such that it cannot readily be removed until the handle portion 9a is again depressed against the spring 8a, by having the two handle portions brought together, either manually by the thumb and fingers, or by a suitable plier type tool.

It is considered that in the above description and the accompanying drawing there has been disclosed a readily releasable fastening device which is relatively simple of manufacture and operation, and which obtains each of the objects and advantages as set forth above. While I have shown but two modifications of this device for cointheplatec. Thediameteroftheballl'lls 7| xp ry p p s only and not by way of limitation, other forms and modifications both with respect to general arrangement and details of the several parts, which may become obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to come within the scope and spirit of my invention as more definitely set forth in the appended claims.

I claim;

1. A quick release locking pin for retaining the apertured elements '01 a bomb rack assembly which are accessible from one side only, comprising a tubular pin engageable with said apertures by insertion from said accessible side, the said tubular pin having an enlarged head portion at one terminal and provided with a centrally bored portion and counterbored end portions, the said counterbore in said pin remotely disposed from said head portion provided with a radially disposed aperture, a ball detent disposed for radial movement within said radial aperture, a detent actuating means comprising a rod axially disposed within said tubular pin, said rod being of a diameter which closely fits within and is slidably guided by the centrally bored portion of said tubular pin, said actuating rod having an enlargedportion of both cylindrical and conical shape closely fitting for guided sliding within the counterbore of said tubular pin remote from its head portion, the said actuating rod having an enlarged head portion closely fitting for guided sliding within the counterbored 80 thereby for unlocking movement of said ball detent upon axial movements of said pin and elongated member toward each other, said rod element having enlarged cylindrical portions at each of its ends for closely'guided sliding within theenlarged counterbored portions of said tubular pin, a compression coil spring co-axially dis posed between the enlarged head portion of said rod element and the reduced diameter centrally bored portion of said tubular pin adapted to re siliently oppose axial movement of said pinand rod head portions toward each other, the said enlarged head portion of said rod element closely fitting for guided slidin within the enlarged counterboredhead portion of said tubular pin whereby in axial sliding movements for release or actuation of said ball detent the said pin element is slidably guided within said tubular pin at both said counterbored portions and said centrally bored intermediate portion.

8. A device for temporarily securing the adjacentapertured plates and intermediate sleeve of a bomb rack assembly of the type comprising a tubular pin having a head portion engageable against one of said bomb rack plates, said pin having the end portion of its shank axially counterbored and diametrically apertured, a ball detent carried within said shank aperture, said pin having its head portion axially counterbored, a rod element axially movable with respect to said tubular pin having a tapered enlargement at one end axially slidable in closely guided relationship with n said counterbored shank portion, said rod element having an enlarged head portion extendand within the counterbored head portion of 'said 85 inc b yond n ly l da l within the said pin whereby drawing of the pin and rod head portions together in a radial direction causes compacting of saidspring and release of said conic portion from said ball detent.

counterbored head portion of said tubular pin; the said rod element havin its intermediate portion of a diameter which is closely slidable for guided movement within the centrally bored por- 2, I aircraft, device for tempbrarily secur- 40 tion of said tubular pin, resilient means disposed ing apertured members of a bomb rack of the type comprisin a tubular pin having a head formed at one of its ends and a ball detent movably retained within its opposite end, the said tubular pin having a central portion bored to a reduced diameter and enlarged-counterbored end portions, an elongated rod element axially movable within the centrally bored portion in a closely sliding relationship therewith, said rod element having a conic camming surface carried between said rod element head portion and the said central portion of said tubular pin tending to urge said head portions into their extended relationship in which the tapered portion at the outer end of said rod element engages said ball detent ior outward ,radial movement into its extended position in which it prevents removal of said tubular pin by contact with the second of said bomb rack plates.

CHARLES E. BREWSTER. 

